GeekSugar

Celebrity Gadget Endorsements: Top 10

GeekSugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:00:53 -0700

Despite studies that say consumers aren't swayed by celebrity endorsements, celebrity-driven gadget ad campaigns are at an all time high.

Whether celebrity gadget sightings are unintentional (take for instance Alicia Keys playing with her Samsung Camcorder at a Knicks game, or Lauren Conrad taking her BlackBerry with her everywhere), others are very intentional and well paid for. The reemergence of HP's The Computer is Personal Again staring Serena Williams got me thinking about the top celebrity gadget endorsements of the last couple of years and why companies continue to use famous names and faces to rep their products.

I've picked a selection of 10 campaigns that made me stop, rewind and pay attention, even if I didn't end up buying any of the items. (How cute was Little Miss Sunshine star Abigail Breslin - seen at right - in her HP printer commercial where she talks about moments in her life captured with pictures?!) Scroll through the widget below to see my picks.

To check out the actual ads, read more

Maria Sharapova for Canon
I knew who Sharapova was before the Canon ads, but the clever smiley-faced tennis ball gimmick was the first thing she did that got my attention.

Shakira for Panasonic
Her hips don't lie, so she must not either, right? Shakira's Panasonic ads are as beautiful and mesmerizing as she is. The company gets bonus points for letting Shakira show off her dance moves and music and not just their cameras.

David Beckham for Motorola
We give David Beckham a hard time for his questionable gadget accessory style, but his ads for the RAZR2 and MotoRAZR are all chic. Becks just does print ads in the US for Motorola, but this behind the scenes of him on a European Motorola set is worth sharing.

Vera Wang for HP
Designer Vera Wang was the first woman to take part in HP's The Computer Is Personal Again campaign and her ad is whimsical and romantic as her designs.

Jay-Z for HP
Hip hop mogul and entrepreneur Jay-Z exudes cool so it was no surprise HP picked him as well for the The Computer Is Personal Again campaign. I love that the ad shows his resume. Like he needs one.

Shakira image courtesy of Shakira Gallery.

Shakira Represents For Panasonic Products

GeekSugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 07:00:53 -0700

Shakira's work with Panasonic is destined to catch plenty of customers' eyes - what with her hips not lying and all. The Latin popstar has just extended her spokesperson partnership until March 2008 to include ads for Lumix digital cameras and the Viera plasma television in print and point-of-sale poster advertisements. According to a Panasonic Press Release Shakira's first appearance will be in ads for new models of LUMIX digital still cameras, which include Panasonic's own MEGA O.I.S (optical image stabilizer) to correct handshakes. The stunning commercials, which were filmed in the Bahamas, can be seen on the Latin American Panasonic website or by scrolling down.

To check out more images from Shakira's photoshoot, courtesy of Shakira Gallery, and to see the hot new Panasonic TV ads, read more

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Atrio Earphones: Small And Powerful

GeekSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 08:00:56 -0700

When I first took the Atrio Series earphones from Future Sonics for a test drive I was extra skeptical about their soft, moveable body, but after hearing Shakira and a whole list of famous composers own headphones from the company, I decided to put them to the test. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they performed. They are shaped noticeably different than traditional earphones, as the section that fits in your ear is much larger than say, the infamous Apple earbuds. The good news is their adjustable body means they fit perfectly in any ear. As soon as I put them in my ears, I hardly noticed they were in because they are both snug and comfortable.

When I first turned on the music the audio was clear and had excellent speaker output. I am by no means an audiophile, but compared to other standard earphones I've tried, the Atrio Series are high quality earphones. The feature that stood out the most was the built-in earplugs in the earphones. Because of their impressive design, they basically drown out all outside noise, which makes them great for use on a bus or airplane or if you just want to tune everything else out. Even with this earplug system, they are created in such a way that doesn't put any pressure on the ear or eardrum. If you don't feel like wearing those huge noise canceling headphones, these are probably the next best thing because they are compact and comfortable. Priced at $199.

View 3 Photos ›

Image Source

This Week On Geeksugar - Shakira's Headphones

GeekSugar — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 13:00:43 -0700

When I first took the Atrio Series earphones from Future Sonics for a test drive I was extra skeptical about their soft, moveable body, but after hearing Shakira and a whole list of famous composers claim to be big fans, decided to put them to the test. Shakira Loves Her Atrio Earphones
I'm usually opposed to dividing the sexes when it comes to gadget talk, but while wandering the line at last week's iPhone launch I couldn't help but notice the crowd was lacking a strong feminine presence. Who Cares More About The iPhone: Men or Women?
The lines, media frenzy and general geekiness surrounding last Friday's iPhone launch were nothing less of awe-inspiring. I can honestly say I have never seen 1,000 people ogling a single gadget with such curiosity, adoration and desire. Macgirl Explores Her New iPhone

I love geek art. From circuit boards turned into wall hangings, necklaces and earrings to retro geek prints, robot statues and anything that was inspired by cerebral, borderline nerd sensibilities. Totally Geeky or Geek Chic? Bar Code Chandelier
Google has just announced some new additions to Picasa web albums, which will give us more freedom to play around with our pictures. Geek Tip: Picasa Rolls Out New Features
We've been taunting you with iPhone speculation, news, hype and reviews since January so we figured it was only fair for us to offer you readers a chance to win your own 8GB Apple iPhone. Win An Apple iPhone!

Maria Sharapova Canon PowerShot	Shakira For Panasonic
David Beckham Shows Off His RAZR2	Vera Wang Gets Personal For HP
Jay-Z Gets Personal For HP	Serena Williams For HP
Abigail Breslin For HP	Dwayne Wade For Sidekick 3
Justin Long 'Get a Mac' Ads	Pharrell Reps HP With A Commercial